Running back LJ Scott will return to Michigan State, which Mark Dantonio and Spartans knew

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, quarterback Brian Lewerke, linebacker Chris Frey and wide receiver Felton Davis talk after the 42-17 win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego. Video by Chris Solari/DFP

Michigan State running back LJ Scott (3) celebrates with offensive lineman Brian Allen (65) after scoring a touchdown during second half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game against Washington State on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego.(Photo: Denis Poroy, AP)

“That’s good for me to hear, certainly,” he said with a grin. “We talked, we did have a talk, but that was be not for me to say or for me to say to anybody else. So I kept it quiet and let him go forth.

“I think it's important to note that LJ Scott had a 3.5 grade point average this semester. He's on track to getting his degree, and leaving early would put that on hold a little longer. I think he could be a tremendous tailback, a guy that we can hand the ball to 250 times and do great things.”

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Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio and the Spartans raise the Holiday Bowl trophy after defeating the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio is gifted with a cake to celebrate his 100th victory after defeating the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, center, celebrates with his team after their 42-17 win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego.
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Michigan State's Josh Butler (19) and Jahz Watts (87) celebrate after Michigan State defeated Washington State 42-17 in the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego.
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Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke (14) holds up the offensive MVP trophy after Michigan State defeated Washington State 42-17 in the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego.
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Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) is tripped up by Washington State Cougars linebacker Justus Rogers (37) on a run during the third quarter in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) runs for a touchdown against Washington State Cougars defensive back Robert Taylor (2) during the fourth quarter in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Washington State Cougars running back James Williams (32) is hit by Michigan State Spartans linebacker Joe Bachie (35) during the third quarter in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans linebacker Joe Bachie (35) gestures after a fumble recovery during the third quarter against the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans quarterback Brian Lewerke (14) is looked at by guard Tyler Higby (70) after a big hit in the third quarter against the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans quarterback Damion Terry (6) celebrates after scoring during the third quarter against the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Washington State Cougars head coach Mike Leach (right) and Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio meet at midfield following the game in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Washington State Cougars running back James Williams (32) runs the football defended by Michigan State Spartans linebacker Andrew Dowell (5) during the third quarter in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio reacts after getting doused one of two times in the fourth quarter of a 42-17 win over the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio (center) reacts while being doused with gatorade by Michigan State linebacker Chris Frey (23) after defeating the Washington State Cougars 42-17 in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio (center) reacts while being doused with gatorade by Michigan State linebacker Chris Frey (23) after defeating the Washington State Cougars 42-17 in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio (right) reacts after being doused with gatorade by Michigan State linebacker Chris Frey (23) after defeating the Washington State Cougars 42-17 in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) knocks the helmet of guard Tyler Higby (70) off as he leaps over the pile as Washington State Cougars linebacker Justus Rogers (37) defends during the second quarter in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke (14) tries to break the tackle of Washington State linebacker Isaac Dotson (31) as he rushes during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego.
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Michigan State wide receiver Felton Davis III (18) makes a touchdown catch during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game against Washington State on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego.
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Washington State wide receiver Davontavean Martin (1) can't make the catch as he's defended by Michigan State cornerback Josiah Scott (22) during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego.
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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) celebrates a touchdown catch against Washington State during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego.
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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) makes a touchdown catch in front of Washington State safety Jalen Thompson (34) and cornerback Darrien Molton, rear, during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego.
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Washington State Cougars wide receiver Kyle Sweet (17) is defended by Michigan State Spartans defensive end Kenny Willekes (48) during the second quarter after a catch in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) knocks the helmet of guard Tyler Higby (70) off as he leaps over the pile as Washington State Cougars safety Jalen Thompson (34) defends during the second quarter in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) knocks the helmet of guard Tyler Higby (70) off as he leaps over the pile as Washington State Cougars linebacker Justus Rogers (37) defends during the second quarter in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) is defended by Washington State Cougars linebacker Isaac Dotson (31) during the second quarter in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) is congratulated after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Michigan State Spartans offensive lineman Brian Allen (65) gestures before the snap during the first quarter against the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Washington State Cougars quarterback Tyler Hilinski (3) throws a pass as he is pressured by Michigan State Spartans defensive end Kenny Willekes (48) during the first quarter in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium.
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Felton Davis III #18 of the Michigan State Spartans runs in a touchdown on a pass play against the Washington State Cougars during the first half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California.
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Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans eludes Jahad Woods #13 of the Washington State Cougars during the first half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California.
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Tyler Hilinski #3 of the Washington State Cougars is tackled by Kenny Willekes #48 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California.
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Hunter Dale #26, Sean Harper Jr. #27 and Dillon Sherman #41 of the Washington State Cougars react to breaking up a pass play to Felton Davis III #18 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California.
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Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans runs past Isaac Dotson #31 and Jalen Thompson #34 of the Washington State Cougars during the first half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California.
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Jordan Reid #55 congratulates Felton Davis III #18 of the Michigan State Spartans after his pass play touchdown against the Washington State Cougars during the first half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California.
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Felton Davis III #18 of the Michigan State Spartans breaks a tackle by Darrien Molton #3 of the Washington State Cougars during the first half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California.
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LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans eludes Justus Rogers #37; Logan Tago #45 and Isaac Dotson #31 of the Washington State Cougars during the first half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California.
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It also was not news to wide receiver Felton Davis, who said his fellow third-year junior told him after the Spartans’ win at Minnesota on Oct. 14 that he wanted to stay at MSU. He called Scott “one of my closest friends.”

“Michigan State is a great place, and I knew he loved everybody that's here,” Davis said. “We had unfinished business, let alone his individual stats, but team goals, you know. We had a lot of unfinished business to take care of, so I knew he would come back.”

Davis, who caught four passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, also could have left a year early for the NFL. He said earlier this month that he also will return to MSU for his senior season.

“I haven’t really thought about anything that way,” Davis said on Dec. 18. “My season was pretty good, but I don’t feel like it was where I know I can be. I’m just scratching the surface of my potential.”

Both returning players critical for quarterback Brian Lewerke, who did not find out about Scott’s decision until on the field shortly after Thursday’s win and Holiday Bowl trophy presentations.

“It's good to have him back. Obviously, it's awesome,” said Lewerke, who was the game’s offensive MVP. “We'll have a lot of guys returning because we were so young.”

Dantonio said it reminds him of the end of the 2014 season, when both Shilique Calhoun and Connor Cook both opted to come back to MSU. The Spartans went to the College Football Playoff semifinal that season.

“They followed with a Big Ten championship ring, and I think those things become possible (next year),” Dantonio said. “We have an established tailback coming back, and he's a special player.”